Troops deployment in Islamabad from today

Interior Ministry in a statement said that the military is being deployed to control the law and order situation in the federal capital. In the first phase 350 soldiers will perform their duties, the statement further said. They will be deployed at Red Zone and other sensitive areas of Islamabad.

The military has already been deployed at Margalla Hills and neighboring areas.

The ministry further said that the military has been put on standby and can take its positions around the city in minutes as quick response force on the call of the district administration. The troops could also patrol at the Constitution Avenue and Red Zone of the federal capital to meet any law and order situation.

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that Article 245 is being enforced to avoid any untoward incident in reaction to Zarb-e-Azb military operation ongoing in North Waziristan tribal region against Taliban militants. He denied any political objectives behind the enforcement of the article in Islamabad.

It should be noted that the opposition parties have criticized the federal government for taking such a step and called it a failure of the government to control the situation. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) have claimed that the Article 245 is being enforced to stop their ‘Azadi March’ and the ‘revolution’ scheduled on 14th August, the Independence Day of Pakistan.